CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina animal shelter says the close bond between a donkey and an emu that can barely stand to be separated may complicate an adoption.

The Charlotte Observer reports the male donkey and female emu were rescued from Kershaw, South Carolina when their owner suddenly vanished last week. Jennifer Gordon of non-profit Carolina Waterfowl Rescue near Charlotte says the owner also left behind other animals.

She says the shelter tried separating them. But the donkey cried and the emu became frantic.

She says the donkey doesn’t even like the shelter’s other donkeys. She says the two cuddle and sleep together. She says they can’t be separated, so someone needs to adopt both animals and “that may not be easy.”

On Thursday, the shelter announced on Facebook that the duo have been named Jack and Diane after suggestions poured in from the public.